U.S. patent application number 14/557932 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-11 for press.
The applicant listed for this patent is Fette Compacting GmbH. Invention is credited to Thomas Pannewitz.
Application Number | 20150158210 14/557932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51900340 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150158210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pannewitz; Thomas |
June 11, 2015 |
PRESS
Abstract
A press producing a pellet from powdered material includes a
press frame with upper and lower retaining plates connected by
spacers and a support frame therebetween. A tool guiding unit has
an upper punch plate with an upper press punch and/or a lower punch
plate with a lower press punch and a die plate fastened at opposite
sides of the frame having a material receptacle. An upper and/or
lower drive unit for operating the punches so that reaction forces
are introduced into the frame. A measurement ruler is fastened in a
thermal zero point of the frame in a plane between the opposite
sides. Measurement slides are arranged at the die plate and at the
upper punch plate and/or the lower punch plate and interact with
the ruler so that vertical movement and bending of the upper punch
plate, the lower punch plate and/or the die plate are measured.
Inventors: |
Pannewitz; Thomas; (Klein
Pampau, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fette Compacting GmbH |
Schwarzenbek |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
51900340 |
Appl. No.: |
14/557932 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
425/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B 15/04 20130101;
B29C 43/027 20130101; B29L 2031/772 20130101; B30B 11/02 20130101;
B30B 11/007 20130101; B30B 11/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B29C 43/02 20060101
B29C043/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 6, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 113 665.6 |
Claims
1. A press for producing pellets from powdered material,
comprising: a press frame with an upper retaining plate, a lower
retaining plate and a support frame, the upper retaining plate and
the lower retaining plate connected together by a plurality of
vertical spacers and the support frame arranged between the upper
retaining plate and the lower retaining plate; a tool guiding unit
including: at least one of an upper punch plate having an upper
press punch or at least one lower punch plate having at least one
lower press punch; and a die plate having a receptacle for powdered
material to be pressed by at least one of the upper press or the
lower press punch; at least one of an upper drive unit for moving
the upper punch plate in a vertical direction or a lower drive unit
for moving the lower punch plate in the vertical direction; wherein
the at least one of the upper drive unit or the lower drive unit is
supported at the support frame during operation in such a manner
that reaction forces, which are generated in response to press
forces produced during pressing of the powdered material in the
receptacle, are introduced into the support frame; the support
frame surrounds the die plate of the tool guiding unit and is
formed in sections; and the die plate is fastened at opposite sides
of the support frame; a measurement ruler fastened to the support
frame in a thermal zero point thereof and in a plane between the
opposite sides of the support frame; and a respective measurement
slide arranged at the die plate and at at least one of the upper
punch plate or the lower punch plate, wherein each measurement
slide interacts with the measurement ruler in such a manner that
vertical movement and bending of at least one of the upper punch
plate, the lower punch plate or the die plate during the pressing
of the powdered material are measured.
2. The press of claim 1, wherein the measurement ruler is fastened
to the support frame in a plane lying centrally between the
opposite sides of the support frame.
3. The press of claim 1, wherein the support frame has a U-shape
that lies in a horizontal plane, the die plate is fastened to
opposing free limbs of the support frame, and the measurement ruler
is fastened to a section of the support frame connecting the
opposing free limbs.
4. The press of claim 1, wherein the die plate and the support
frame are arranged in a same plane or in planes slightly offset
from each other.
5. The press of claim 1, wherein the tool guiding unit forms a
module that is removable from the press as a whole for exchange
with another tool guiding unit also forming a module.
6. The press of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the upper drive
unit is arranged between the support frame and the upper punch
plate, the upper drive unit fastened directly or via an upper force
transmitting element to the upper punch plate; or the lower drive
unit is arranged between the support frame and the lower punch
plate or the die plate, the lower drive unit fastened directly, or
via a lower force transmitting element, to the lower punch plate or
the die plate.
7. The press of claim 6, wherein at least one of: the upper force
transmitting element comprises an upper force transmitting bridge
and two upper drive units are fastened to the upper force
transmitting bridge; or the lower force transmitting element
comprises a lower force transmitting bridge and two lower drive
units are fastened to the lower force transmitting bridge.
8. The press of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the upper drive
unit comprises an upper spindle drive driven by an electric motor;
or the lower drive unit comprises a lower spindle drive driven by
an electric motor.
9. The press of claim 8, wherein at least one of: the electric
motor of the upper spindle drive is fastened to the upper retaining
plate of the press frame; or the electric motor of the lower
spindle drive is fastened to the lower retaining plate of the press
frame.
10. The press of claim 8, further comprising at least one of: an
upper fixed bearing of an upper spindle of the upper spindle drive
fastened to the support frame, and an upper spindle nut of the
upper spindle drive fastened directly, or via an upper force
transmitting element, to the upper punch plate; or a lower fixed
bearing of a lower spindle of the lower spindle drive fastened to
the support frame, and a lower spindle nut of the lower spindle
drive fastened directly, or via a lower force transmitting element,
to at least one of the lower punch plate or the die plate.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The invention relates to a press for producing a pellet from
powdered material, for example a metal or ceramic powder.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] The powdered material is filled into a mold receptacle of a
die plate, and subsequently pressed into a pellet in the mold
receptacle using, for example, an upper punch and a lower punch.
Such a press is known for example from DE 10 2011 116 552 A1. There
is a need to determine the vertical position of the plates of the
tool guiding unit, in particular the upper, or respectively the
lower, punch plate and the die plate. A corresponding measurement
apparatus for a differently developed press is known from EP 1 849
590 B1. There, a single measurement ruler is attached in the
longitudinal center thereof at a vertical guide designed as a
vertical guide column, wherein the vertical guide column is
arranged on one side of the guide column Measurement slides, which
interact with the measurement ruler for measuring the vertical
position of the plates, are arranged on the plates to be measured.
The vertical guide column holding the measurement ruler is mounted
on a lower housing part of the press frame using a bearing plate.
By permitting a limited relative movement between the vertical
guide column and the press frame, length changes of the press frame
due to thermal influences and press forces should be prevented from
influencing the measurement result.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0003] In EP 1 849 590 B1, high press forces during operation, and
the deformations of the press frame associated with such forces,
can result in a shift in position of the tool guiding unit
including the vertical guide column This shift in position is also
experienced by the measurement ruler. The amount of the shift must
be determined elaborately in the evaluation, and compensated. In
addition, only vertical movements of the retaining plates can be
detected with the known measurement apparatuses, not those due to
deformations of the retaining plates, in particular bending of the
retaining plates.
[0004] In contrast, in the press described herein, the vertical
position and a possible deformation of the upper and/or lower punch
plates and/or the die plate can be determined reliably even in the
case of high press forces.
[0005] In one implementation, the teachings herein describe a press
for producing a pellet from a powdered material including a press
frame with an upper and a lower retaining plate, which are
connected together by several vertical spacers. The press frame
also has at least one support frame, which is arranged between the
upper and the lower retaining plate. The press further includes a
tool guiding unit with at least one upper punch plate having at
least one upper press punch and/or with at least one lower punch
plate having at least one lower press punch, and with a die plate
having at least one receptacle for powdered material to be pressed
by the upper and/or lower press punch and at least one upper drive
unit for moving the upper punch plate in the vertical direction
and/or at least one lower drive unit for moving the lower punch
plate and/or the die plate in the vertical direction. The upper
drive unit and/or the lower drive unit, during operation, are
supported at the support frame in such a manner that the reaction
forces, which are generated as action forces by the press forces
produced during pressing of the powdered material in the at least
one receptacle, are introduced into the support frame. The support
frame surrounds the die plate of the tool guiding unit forming a
frame at least in sections, and the die plate is fastened on
opposite sides of the support frame. A measurement ruler is
fastened to the support frame in the thermal zero point thereof and
in a plane between the opposite sides of the support frame fastened
to the die plate, and a measurement slide is arranged in each case
at the upper punch plate and/or at the lower punch plate and at the
die plate. The measurement slides interact with the measurement
ruler in such a manner that a vertical movement and a bending of
the upper punch plate and/or the lower punch plate and/or the die
plate can be measured.
[0006] The press according to an implementation has a press frame
with an upper and lower retaining plate which are connected by
vertical spacers and thus form a frame, or respectively a housing,
of the press. The press, using the lower retaining plate, stands
using feet or stands directly on the ground. The press further
comprises a tool guiding unit, in particular a tool guiding frame.
The tool guiding unit has one or more upper and/or lower punch
plate(s), each having at least one upper and/or lower punch. The
tool guiding unit further has a die plate with a form receptacle
into which the powder to be pressed is filled. The powdered
material can be, for example, a metal or ceramic powder.
Frequently, the press comprises at least one upper and lower punch,
which interact in the receptacle of the die plate for pressing the
filled powder. However it is also conceivable to provide a
pressing, for example, only from above using only one upper punch
if the accommodation of the die plate has a closed bottom.
[0007] Upper and/or lower drive units may be provided for the
vertical movement of the upper and/or lower punch in the course of
the pressing procedure. In principle, it is possible to provide
more than one, for example two, upper drive units and more than
one, for example two, lower drive units. If two upper drive units
and/or two lower drive units are provided, these can be arranged
symmetrically on two opposing sides of the press frame. It is also
conceivable to provide only one drive unit on one side and only one
guiding unit on the opposing side. As explained, the lower drive
unit can drive a lower punch plate or a die plate in the vertical
direction. Thus, it is possible to operate the press in an ejection
method in which the die plate is stationary and the upper and lower
punches move with respect to the die plate, as well as in the
pull-off method in which the lower punch is stationary and the die
plate and the upper punch are movable. Basically, the press
according to the teachings herein permits the number of press axes
and thus the pellets produced in parallel to be increased within
broad limits
[0008] The press frame of the press may have a support frame
arranged between the retaining plates. The support frame can be
arranged, for example, centrally between the retaining plates. The
support frame is designed separated from the die plate and is
suitable for the purpose of absorbing strong forces. The tool
guiding unit is arranged on the support frame. In addition, the
upper drive unit and/or the lower drive unit during operation are
supported at the support frame, in particularly directly and in
such a manner that the reaction forces, which are generated as
action forces by the press forces produced during pressing of the
powdered material in the at least one receptacle, are introduced at
least for the most part into the support frame. That is, in the
course of the pressing procedure, the upper and lower punch exert a
significant press force through the upper and/or lower drive unit
onto the powdered material to be pressed into a pellet. This press
force generates a reaction force or a counter force as action force
which in turn acts via the upper and lower punch on the upper
and/or drive unit. Thus, this reaction force introduced via the
upper and lower punch into the upper and/or lower drive unit is
introduced into the support frame. The remaining parts of the press
frame, in particular the vertical spacers between the retaining
plates, do not participate substantially in this force flow. Also,
these forces are not introduced again into the die plate via the
upper and/or lower drive unit. The press frame is desirably a press
frame without a column, in which the vertical spacers need not be
designed for accommodating high press forces. Because forces do not
flow substantially via the relatively long columns of a press
frame, there is a reduced deflection of the press. A bending of the
press frame and the undesirable influences on the pressing result
connected with such bending are largely avoided. Furthermore, in an
advantageous manner, only a few components of the press are located
in the force flow. As a result, only a few component tolerances are
added together. The components located in the force flow, in
particular the support frame, can be produced in a constructively
simple manner with small tolerances. With less constructed
expenditure than needed with the above art, a precise press result
can be attained. Furthermore, the entire height of the press is
small because the drive units can be integrated in the press
frame.
[0009] In one implementation, the tool guiding unit forms a
so-called adapter. The fastening of the tool guiding unit at the
support frame may occur only via the die plate, namely in that the
die plate is fastened only to two opposite sides of the support
frame. The tool guiding unit is thereby coupled only to the support
frame. The support frame in turn is largely decoupled from movement
of the press frame due to the force introduction such that the tool
guiding unit is also decoupled from movement of the press
frame.
[0010] The support frame can be constructed in one piece. It
surrounds the die plate forming a frame at least in sections, for
example at least on three sides. The measurement ruler is fastened
at the thermal zero point thereof, that is, in the longitudinal
center thereof, to the support frame. At the same time, the support
frame lies in the thermal zero point of the press. Therefore,
thermally dependent length changes have no effect on the
measurement. Where the measurement ruler is likewise fastened only
to the support frame, the measurement ruler is also decoupled from
movement of the press frame via the support frame. In this
arrangement, the measurement ruler has only an indirect connection
to the tool guiding unit via the measurement slides.
[0011] In certain implementations, the measurement ruler has a
vertical measurement axis. It is fastened to the support frame in a
plane between the opposing sides of the support frame fastened to
the die plate. It is understood that the measurement ruler has a
lateral extent perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. In
particular, the vertical plane in which the measurement ruler is
fastened to the support frame can lie, for example, centrally to
the lateral extent of the measurement ruler. In contrast to the art
previously described, a bending of the plates of the tool guiding
unit, in particular the upper and/or lower punch plates and/or the
die plate, can be measured due to the fastening of the measurement
ruler between the sides of the support frame fastened to the die
plate. Therefore, according to implementations of the invention,
the vertical positions and possible deformations of the upper
and/or lower punch plates and the die plate can be measured
directly with greater accuracy. Faults, for example tool breakage
among others, are minimized
[0012] Measurement sensors or measurement sending apparatuses, for
example, can form the measurement slides. Appropriate measurement
sending apparatuses or measurement sensors can then be arranged on
the measurement ruler. In principle, almost any measurement method
is possible. The measuring can occur optically for example. For
this purpose, the measurement ruler or the measurement slides can
have suitable optical sensors which then receive an optical signal
of an optical sending apparatus provided on the measurement slide,
or respectively on the measurement ruler. A suitable evaluation
apparatus evaluates the measured signals. However, other measuring
principles are also possible, for instance proximity sensors among
others can be used.
[0013] According to one preferred implementation, the measurement
ruler can be fastened to the support frame in a plane lying
centrally between the opposing sides of the support frame fastened
to the die plate. Generally, the greatest deformation of the die
plate, or respectively the upper and/or lower punch plates, occurs
centrally or respectively in the middle, between the opposing sides
of the support frame. A particularly high accuracy is attained in
that the measurement is made there.
[0014] According to a further design, the support frame can have a
U-shape which lies in a horizontal plane, wherein the die plate is
fastened to the opposing free limbs of the support frame, and
wherein the measurement ruler is fastened to the section of the
support frame connecting the free limbs, in particular centrally.
The free limbs can be arranged parallel to each other and can be
connected together by a section running rectangular to the free
limbs. The die plate, in a top view, can be rectangular, in
particular, quadratic in shape.
[0015] According to a further design, the die plate and the support
frame can be arranged in the same arrangement plane or an
arrangement plane slightly separated from each other. The
arrangement plane is, in an implementation, a horizontal plane.
Both the die plate as well as the support frame generally have an
extent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement plane, in
this case, in a vertical direction. The arrangement plane can then
lie, for example, centrally to the vertical extent of the die
plate, or respectively the support frame. The arrangement plane of
the die plate forms a reference plane in which, with this design,
both the die plate as well the measurement ruler are fastened to
the support frame.
[0016] According to a further particularly practical design, the
tool guiding unit can form a module removable as a whole from the
press, and can be exchanged for another tool guiding unit also
forming a module.
[0017] According to a further design, the upper drive unit is
arranged between the support frame and the upper punch plate,
and/or that the lower drive unit is arranged between the support
frame and the lower punch plate or the die plate. The upper drive
unit is fastened directly, or via an upper force transmitting
element, to the upper punch plate, and/or the lower drive unit is
fastened directly, or via a lower force transmitting element, to
the lower punch plate or the die plate. Furthermore, the upper
force transmitting element may comprise an upper force transmitting
bridge, wherein two upper drive units are provided that are
fastened to the upper force transmitting bridge, and/or the lower
force transmitting element may comprise a lower force transmitting
bridge, wherein two lower drive units are provided that are
fastened to the lower force transmitting bridge.
[0018] According to a further design, the upper drive unit can
comprise at least one upper spindle drive driven by at least one
electric motor, and/or the lower drive unit can comprise at least
one lower spindle drive driven by at least one electric motor. At
least one electric motor of the upper spindle drive can be fastened
to the upper retaining plate of the press frame, and/or at least
one electric motor of the lower spindle drive can be fastened to
the lower retaining plate of the press frame. Furthermore, an upper
fixed bearing of an upper spindle of at least one upper spindle
drive may be fastened to the support frame, and an upper spindle
nut of the at least one upper spindle drive may be fastened
directly, or via an upper force transmitting element, to the upper
punch plate, and/or a lower fixed bearing of a lower spindle of at
least one lower spindle drive may be fastened to the support frame,
and a lower spindle nut of the at least one lower spindle drive may
fastened directly, or via a lower force transmitting element, to
the lower punch plate and/or the die plate. The at least one
electric motor can be a hollow shaft motor.
[0019] In this implementation, the electric motor may be fastened
to the support frame, wherein the electric motor drives an upper
spindle nut of the at least one upper spindle drive, wherein an
upper spindle of the at least one upper spindle drive is fastened
directly, or via an upper force transmitting element, to the upper
punch plate. The electric motor may also drive a lower spindle nut
of the at least one lower spindle drive, wherein a lower spindle of
the at least one lower spindle drive is fastened directly, or via a
lower force transmitting element, to the lower punch plate and/or
the die plate.
[0020] Alternatively, the electric motor is fastened directly, or
via an upper force transmitting element, to the upper punch plate
and drive an upper spindle nut of the at least one upper spindle
drive, and an upper spindle of the at least one upper spindle drive
is fastened to the support frame. In another alternative, the
electric motor is fastened directly, or via a lower force
transmitting element, to the lower punch plate and/or the die plate
and drives a lower spindle nut of the at least one lower spindle
drive, wherein a lower spindle of the at least one lower spindle
drive is fastened to the support frame.
[0021] Further alternatively, the electric motor is fastened to the
support frame, and the electric motor rotationally drives an
axially movable upper spindle of the at least one upper spindle
drive, and an upper fixed bearing of the at least one upper spindle
drive is fastened directly, or via an upper force transmitting
element, to the upper punch plate. Alternatively or in addition
thereto, the electric motor rotationally drives an axially movable
lower spindle of the at least one lower spindle drive, and a lower
fixed bearing of the at least one lower spindle drive is fastened
directly, or via a lower force transmitting element, to the lower
punch plate and/or the die plate.
[0022] In an implementation, the electric motor is fastened
directly, or via an upper force transmitting element, to the upper
punch plate and rotationally drives an axially movable upper
spindle of the at least one upper spindle drive, and an upper fixed
bearing of the at least one upper spindle drive is fastened to the
support frame. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the electric
motor is fastened directly, or via a lower force transmitting
element, to the lower punch plate and/or the die plate, and
rotationally drives an axially movable lower spindle of the at
least one lower spindle drive, and a lower fixed bearing of the at
least one lower spindle drive is fastened to the support frame.
[0023] Of course it is also possible in principle that the upper
drive unit comprises at least an upper hydraulic or
electrohydraulic drive, and/or that the lower drive unit comprises
at least one lower hydraulic or electrohydraulic drive.
[0024] Further details of these implementations, including
modifications to these implementations, and details regarding other
implementations of the teachings herein are described below with
reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in the
following in more detail using the drawings below in which like
reference numbers refer to like elements unless otherwise noted and
in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a press according to one implementation of the
invention, at rest, in a perspective view from the front;
[0027] FIG. 2 is the press from FIG. 1 in a perspective view from
behind;
[0028] FIG. 3 the view from FIG. 1 in an operating state of the
press; and
[0029] FIG. 4 the view from FIG. 2 in an operating state of the
press.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The press according to FIG. 1 has a press frame 10 with an
upper retaining plate 12 and a lower retaining plate 14. The upper
and lower retaining plates 12, 14 are connected to each other by
means of four spacers 16, running in a vertical direction in the
portrayed example, and are connected to a support frame 18 arranged
approximately in the middle between the upper and lower retaining
plates 12, 14. In the example of FIG. 1, the support frame 18 is
designed as a single part and has a U-shaped profile lying in a
horizontal plane, an arrangement plane and an extension plane. In
particular, the support frame 18 has two free limbs arranged in
parallel to each other, and a section connecting the free limbs
together on one end, the longitudinal axis of which runs
rectangular to the longitudinal axes of the free limbs. The lower
retaining plate 14 stands on the ground by means of four support
legs 20.
[0031] The press further has a tool guiding unit formed as a module
with an upper punch plate 22 having an upper punch a lower punch
plate 24 having a lower punch and a die plate 26 arranged between
the upper punch plate 22 and the lower punch plate 24. The die
plate 26 has a receptacle (not shown) for powder, for example metal
or ceramic powder, to be pressed using the upper and lower punches.
The upper punch plate 22, the lower punch plate 24 and the die
plate 26 are connected together by means of four vertical guide
columns 28. The die plate 26, in this example, is fastened directly
to the opposing insides of the free limbs of the support frame 18.
The tool guiding unit can be removed as a whole from the press
frame 10, and can be exchanged for another tool guiding unit.
[0032] The press further comprises two upper drive units for
vertically moving the upper punch plate 22, and two lower drive
units for vertically moving the lower punch plate 24. The upper and
lower drive units are each arranged on two opposite sides of the
press frame 10. The upper drive units each comprise an upper
electric motor 30 arranged on the upper retaining plate 12 and an
upper spindle drive. In the illustrated example, an upper fixed
bearing 32 of each upper spindle drive is fastened directly to the
top side of the support frame 18. An upper spindle nut 36 is
arranged axially movable on each of the upper spindles 34. A
rotation of the upper spindles 34 leads to an axial movement of
respective upper spindle nuts 36. The upper spindle nuts 36 of the
upper drive units are fastened to an upper force transmitting
bridge 38, which is connected via an upper force transmitting
element 40 to the upper punch plate 22. In this manner, axial
movement of the upper spindle nuts 36 is transmitted to the upper
punch plate 22 such that the upper punch plate 22 is also moved in
an axial direction.
[0033] In this respect, the structure of the two lower drive units
is identical. Thus, the lower drive units each have a lower
electric motor 42 arranged on the lower retaining plate 14, each of
which drives an axially fixed lower spindle 44. In each case, a
lower fixed bearing 46 of each lower spindle drive is fastened
directly to the lower side of the support frame 18. Fastening to
the top side is also possible. A lower spindle nut 50 is in turn
arranged on the lower spindles 44. The lower spindle nuts 50 are in
turn connected to a lower force transmitting bridge 52, which is
connected via a lower force transmitting element 54 to the lower
punch plate 24. When the lower electric drive motors 42 rotatably
drive the lower spindles 44, an axial movement of the lower spindle
nuts 50 arises in turn. This axial movement is transmitted to the
lower punch plate 24 by means of the lower force transmitting
bridge 52 and the force transmitting element 54, such that the
lower punch plate 24 is also moved in an axial direction.
[0034] Additionally, it is noted that the upper spindle nuts 36 and
the lower spindle nuts 50 are each connected to the upper, or
respectively lower, force transmitting bridges 38, 52 by means of
rotatably mounted compensation elements 37, 51. The compensation
elements 37, 51 ensure that a deformation of the force transmitting
bridges 38, 52 that occurs during operation due to high press
forces is not transmitted to the spindle drives.
[0035] As seen in the figures, the upper drive units are each
supported, via the upper fixed bearings 32 thereof, directly at the
support frame 18, and the lower drive units are each supported, via
the lower fixed bearings 46 thereof, directly at the support frame
18. Thus, during a press procedure, force flows between the upper
punch into the upper punch plate 22, from this via the upper force
transmitting element 40 and the upper force transmitting bridge 38
into the two upper drive units, in particular, the upper spindles
34 and the upper fixed bearings 32 and from these into the support
frame 18. Correspondingly, force flows from the lower punch into
the lower punch plate 24 and via the lower force transmitting
element 54 and the lower force transmitting bridge 52 into the
lower drive units, in particular the lower spindles 44 and the
lower fixed bearings 46, and from these in turn into the support
frame 18. Thus only a few components are located in the force flow
such that correspondingly few component tolerances add up. Because
the arrangement plane of the support frame 18 lies in the same
horizontal plane as the die plate 26 or in a plane only slightly
offset from this, and the vertical spacers 16 do not participate
substantially in the force flow, there is only a minimal deflection
and thus there is minimal bending of the press frame 10. However,
insofar as there are deformations of the press frame 10, these do
not in any case lead to a deformation of the support frame 18,
which is decoupled in this respect from deformations of the press
frame 10. Due to the exclusive fastening of the tool guiding unit
to the support frame 18 by means of the die plate 26, the tool
guiding unit is also decoupled from possible deformation of the
press frame 10.
[0036] As shown, a measurement ruler 56 with a vertical measurement
axis is fastened to the section connecting the free limbs of the
support frame 18, and specifically in its longitudinal center, that
is, in the thermal zero point thereof. The measurement ruler 56 is
exclusively fastened to the support frame 18, such that this is
also decoupled from any possible deformation of the press frame 10
in the course of a pressing procedure. A measurement slide 58, 60,
62 is attached respectively to the upper punch plate 22, the lower
punch plate 24 and the die plate 26. Each measurement slide 58, 60,
62 interacts with the measurement ruler 56 such that both a
vertical movement, thus the vertical position, as well as any
possible deformation, for example a bending of the upper punch
plate 22, the lower punch plate 24 and the die plate 26, can be
measured. For this purpose almost any known measurement apparatuses
can be used, for example, optical sensors, proximity sensors or the
like.
[0037] A bending of the upper and lower punch plates 22, 24 and the
die plate 26 occurring in the course of the pressing procedure due
to the strong press forces is shown considerably exaggerated in
FIGS. 3 and 4 for visualization purposes. The measurement is
performed at the location of the greatest bending due to the
central arrangement of the measurement ruler 56. Furthermore,
because the measurement ruler 56 is fastened at the thermal zero
point thereof to the support frame 18, and in turn the support
frame 18 and also the die plate 26 are arranged at the thermal zero
point of the press, thermal influences do not have any effect on
the measurement performed.
[0038] The invention has been described using certain
implementations, but it is not limited thereto. References to "a"
or "an" element in the description and claims refer to one or more
of those elements unless expressly limited.
* * * * *